Software localization

Location is in the software development for the customization of content (books, cinema, websites ), processes, products, and especially computer programs ( software ) to the in a particular geographic or ethnic circumscribed sales or use area (country, region or ethnic group ) prevailing local linguistic and cultural preferences.

The English word for localization localization (American / British English ) or localization ( British English ) and is in software development, often abbreviated to the Numeronym or l10n l10n. The 10 is the number of letters omitted. (Compare i18n for internationalization and internationalization. )

Steps

In software development, localization includes primarily the translation of the software product in a different language. The translation services required as part of the software localization are usually processed with specialized CAT programs. Addition, however, date, time, currency and temperature, and measurements and conversion sizes are affected. Of crucial importance is the adaptation of the product and the product documentation at the place of use applicable legislation. Further, audiovisual adjustments need to be made ( for example with regard to the typical taste in music ). This includes the adaptation of color palettes, fonts and character sets, audio and voice output and images (eg flags). Especially with the use of graphics is often an adaptation to the geographical and cultural conditions and the specific practices and preferences of each user important.

As a prerequisite for the localization of software internationalization must be planned and prepared by software in the planning process already. This does not happen, so a subsequent adaptation or localization is associated with increased time and expense.

Also graphics of a help file to be located. This is done by on a "clean system " to Set the test software and the graphics stalking by screenshot in the respective language. These pictures are then inserted in the help, so that the user finds the help graphics in the appropriate language.

Market and supplier

Many software manufacturers whose products are sold internationally, developing internationalized software.

The need to internationalization following software localization takes place in a part of the company through its own departments, but is outsourced to a large extent to specialized companies. The market for companies that offer software localization is very confusing. Companies of all sizes (LSP Language Service Providers) offer part only translation services to, in part all steps necessary for localization. Part of the company offers only the localization in a language ( SLV = Single Language Vendor), part of the company takes over the coordination into several languages ​​(MLV = Multi Language Vendor). Additional information on market participants there are in the Globalization and Localization Association and the Localization Industry Standards Association (see links).

Localization tools

Localization tools are programs that assist the user in the software localization. Basic steps are to extract the text from a software (source file ), editing the text by the translator and generating a localized version (destination file ). When a new version of the source file was developed, the localization tool will detect the newly added texts, so that the translator only has to translate this.

Additional features such as automatically finding existing translations, export to other translation tools (such as translation memory, dialogue editors to adjust the layout and testing to translation errors ) are now offered by most tools.

A selection of tools available on the market can be found for example in the article for computer-assisted translation.

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